Rotary transfer system

A rotary transfer system comprising:

• an attitude converting station for changing the attitude of a pallet with a workpiece supported thereon to a predetermined attitude;
• at least two machining stations for machining the workpiece;
• an annular feed path including upper and lower arcuate movable rails disposed in said attitude converting station and in each of said machining stations, and upper and lower arcuate fixed rails disposed between said attitude converting stations and each of said machining stations, said fixed rails being aligned with said movable rails for supporting the pallet from the attitude converting station to said machining stations;
• feeder means for feeding the pallet along said annular feed path from the attitude converting station successively to said machining stations;
• a rotatable pallet index jig body for supporting the pallet, said movable rails being disposed on said pallet index jib body for rotation therewith;
• and
• actuating means for imparting movement to said movable rails for moving said movable rails from a center of said annular feed path for preventing said movable rails from interfering with said fixed rails when said pallet index jig body and said removable rails are rotated.